You might have heard about the various health benefits of alkaline water; some people say that alkaline water helps slow the aging process. Even plain water also helps in slowing down the aging process.

But there is a significant difference between basic and plain water. Alkaline water is known to have a higher pH than plain water. It regulates your body’s pH level and helps to prevent incurable diseases like cancer and other health risks.

But do you know what alkaline water is and what its benefits are? You will get the full details just by reading the article below!

1. What Is Alkaline Water

The term “alkaline” in alkaline water refers to its pH level. It is a number that measures the acidic level or alkaline level of a substance on a pH scale ranging from 0 to 14. For example, if a substance has a pH level of 1, it is considered acidic, and another substance of 13 values too much alkalinity.

Normal drinking water generally has a higher pH value than alkaline water; some experts believe alkaline water can neutralize the low pH level in your body.

So, they prefer drinking alkaline water to normal water to prevent complications like cancer. However, only a high pH value is not going to do any good to our bodies. It requires some minerals and negative Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP). ORP acts as an antioxidant in our bodies. It has this special ability.

2. Is Drinking Alkaline Water Safe

Alkaline water tastes different from normal tap water. The normal tap water tastes sweet, but alkaline water tastes bitter. It can also change the taste of anything made with alkaline water, like coffee or tea.

Now, the main question arises: Is alkaline water safe?

However, there is no scientific evidence to support this answer. However, a few studies ensured that alkaline water is safe to drink unless you have kidney disease. Alkaline water doesn’t have any serious health issues or risks. However, intake of high-pH water can make your skin dry and itchy or even cause an upset stomach.

3. What Contains In  Alkaline Diet

The alkaline diet is all about reducing protein intake. It includes more fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have a negative acid load that neutralizes sodium and potassium levels in our bodies.

This balance can be beneficial for bone health and muscle health. The other health benefits could be possibly preventing high blood pressure, strokes, and other chronic diseases.

Proven scientific research says that an alkaline diet also increases magnesium in cells, which tends to activate vitamin D. Alkaline diet also helps children with severe metabolic acidosis with low levels of growth hormones.

4. Possible Side Effects & Health Risks in Healthy Adults

Alkaline water is considered safe, but it also has some side effects. Some negative side effects of alkaline water include lowering natural stomach acidity, which helps kill bacteria and expel other pathogens from entering your bloodstream.

The human body may suffer from gastrointestinal issues and skin irritations due to excess alkalinity. The body’s normal pH can agitate, which leads to metabolic alkalosis. The possible symptoms are

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hand tremors
• Muscle twitching
• Tingling in the extremities or face
• Confusion

Internal Medicine Physician Weighs in on Alkaline Water and Kidney Health

Dr. Kelvin Fernandez, M.D., Tutor and Medical Residency Advisor at Ace Med Boards imparts knowledge about the influence of alkaline water on kidneys:

“Discussing [the] impact on kidneys, alkaline water [is] often marketed for its potential health benefits, but [it’s] important to understand the implications it might have for people with kidney conditions.

High alkaline water consumption could tilt the body’s pH towards alkalosis, which might stress the kidneys as they try to maintain balance.

[This] could be potentially risky for those with already compromised kidney function or conditions such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Additionally, the higher mineral content, often found in alkaline water, might be problematic for kidneys to filter, especially in those with kidney conditions.

Yet, it’s important to note that occasional consumption is unlikely to cause significant harm in most individuals. As is often the case, the key lies in maintaining a balance and not substituting regular water intake entirely with alkaline water.

Specifically, anyone with kidney conditions considering changing their water intake should consult their healthcare provider first.”

5. Benefits Of Alkaline Water

The peer-reviewed studies have put such health claims that are scientifically proven. Here are the health benefits claims as follows:

5.1. Keeps Athletes Hydrated

Alkaline water might contain minerals that are also electrolytes. There is a strong claim that alkaline water can help athletes stay hydrated better with low blood viscosity. However, the electrolytes in alkaline water are not as high as in a sports drink, pure water, or coconut water.

In a geological survey, only a few athletes in 2018 positively affected whole blood viscosity hydration by high pH value water compared to bottled water after a strenuous workout.

5.2. Acid Reflux Combats

If you are dealing with reflux disease, you should deal with it with a bottle of water. Generally, reflux disease victims should drink a lot of water for better health claims. But now the question arises: does it need to be alkaline water?

However, the activation of this problem varies in different people. For some people, acid reflux is triggered by coffee or chocolate; for others, it is fruits and veggies, like citrus and tomatoes. In short, the root issue is due to food-based triggers.

Few studies say that alkaline water typically may help you with too much acid and give therapeutic benefits. If you add alkalinity to your body, the pH level will remain stable and create more gastric juices and digestive enzymes.

Moreover, if your blood gets a pH value of more than seven, you will breathe more carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide brings the pH value down from your blood.

5.3.  Prevents Bone Loss

Most people start worrying about their bones when they get old. This panic is also known as osteoporosis. This might make bones brittle, and bones often get fractured.

Age and other factors like genetics, diet, lifestyle, and some medical conditions can also put bones in danger and a high risk of getting fractured. People are primarily concerned that low pH levels can break down bone more.

This risk is found in people with weakened kidney function or lower muscle and bone mass. People who eat a high-acidic diet and acidic water over decades generally suffer from bone loss. If the same people start drinking high-pH water, their bone resorption will most likely stop.

The alkalinity in the body will start neutralizing the acid content in the body, and after everything is brought to normality, the depletion in bone material will also stop. It prevents the build-up of water, and hence, the problem of bone loss can also be eliminated.

5.4. Detoxifying

People who suggest alkaline water say drinking the beverage will help detoxify your body. So why not take an alkaline water bottle and start detoxifying your body? Beverages at a time can also be harmful to your body. So, you should start with an alkaline water bottle rather than regular tap water or other drinks.

5.5. Prevents cancer

Alkaline water can prevent cancer. Such claims have been made for alkaline water, but there are no proven health benefits yet. Some academic research institutions say that acidic environments may help promote the growth of cancer cells.

But basic drinking water can’t keep the neutral pH levels of your blood, and neither can it change the acidic environment completely. But you can drink this water and lower some acid levels in your blood.

5.6. Immunity Booster

This water also has benefits, boosting our bodies’ immunity. It has a significant role in boosting immunity. The immune system may help the body neutralize the acidity in your body, which must have been caused by poor diet, stress, and environmental toxins.

Water with high pH levels has many powerful antioxidants that might stop the growth of cell-damaging free radicals in your body. These radicals may be the reason for the fast aging process.

5.7. Acts As Neutralizer

One of the main benefits of this alkaline drinking water is that it neutralizes the acidity in our bodies. It is known to lower excessive acidic content in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Heart disease risks are also reduced.

Unlocking the Potential: Exploring the Alkaline Diet for Overall Health and Disease Prevention

Trista Best, a Registered Dietitian at Balance One Supplements, Environmental Health Specialist, and Adjunct Nutrition Professor, shares expert opinions on the possibilities of alkaline diet:

“The alkaline diet is getting attention for its claims to promote overall health and fight disease.

It [is] based on [the] concept of replacing acid-producing foods with alkaline foods [that] will bring your body’s pH to an alkaline level and lead to positive health outcomes.

Among the many touted health benefits are osteoporosis prevention, cancer prevention, and immune-boosting effects.

It [is] argued that cancer grows only in acidic environments, which is why it [is] believed that an alkaline diet can restrict and prevent [the] growth of cancer.

[The] change this diet makes in one’s regular eating pattern is also significant. It encourages fruit, vegetables, and whole grains and restricts junk foods.

Following these guidelines can be beneficial for anyone, regardless of goals.”

6. How To Make Alkaline Water

6.1. With Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate has a pH level of 9 in nature and is alkaline. Mix about a half tablespoon for about four liters of regular water. Shake the regular water till it gets dissolved into the water completely. Once you are done with mixing, gulp down a glass.

6.2. With Lemon

Lemon juice is also acidic and has a pH value of less than seven. If it is added to water and consumed and fully metabolized, the effects are alkalizing, and the pH value in your body will rise above seven and become alkaline.

Basic water is also available in many stores. You can even find it in online stores. However, the water ionizers are found as solid in many large chains. It’s better to make this basic water at your home following the strict sourcing guidelines of the Cleveland Clinic drug administration.

Conclusion

There is no evidence that this water is harmful. However, this water might not be suitable for you before you start making sure you know about all the benefits and its side effects.

Do not trust the tertiary references and do a bit more research. After all this, you should know about your health problems, and only once your doctor provides medical advice should you start with this. Otherwise, it’s better to continue with the regular water.

Guest Author: Saket Kumar

Last Updated on July 18, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology